Well I actually loved this one! Sisters, magical library, spells, magical scribes, enchanted mirrors and books. It had it all. I don't much like bloodWell I actually loved this one! Sisters, magical library, spells, magical scribes, enchanted mirrors and books. It had it all. I don't much like blood, but I really got into the story....more
Kate Morton is one of my favorite authors. But this was not one of my favorites of hers. Her themes across her books appear to be consistent and repeaKate Morton is one of my favorite authors. But this was not one of my favorites of hers. Her themes across her books appear to be consistent and repeated throughout her works. I felt like the mystery twist was apparent from page one, and you had to go through the 550 pages, so the characters could figure out what was obvious from the start. I felt the characters were not particularly compelling.
But on the plus side, it's Kate Morton, so you know you are going to have beautiful writing which engages. A solid three from me.
This had a different unusual format - definitely a book within a book within a book, with some letters spliced in. There were a lot of layers to it. IThis had a different unusual format - definitely a book within a book within a book, with some letters spliced in. There were a lot of layers to it. I actually rather liked it a lot. Was definitely engaged.
Another five stars - how I love Liane Morairty, one of my absolute favorite authors!
No one does dysfunctional family like this author. There are secrAnother five stars - how I love Liane Morairty, one of my absolute favorite authors!
No one does dysfunctional family like this author. There are secrets, there are twists, there are surprises, there is love. Sometimes twisted, sometimes direct.
I don't want to describe this book, but I do want to say at a certain point I could not put it down. What an ending! What a great ride!...more
I liked it. Its not a "not to missed" but I enjoyed it. Dual timeline, to understand what Betty (Boop) has been holding her entire life, since that faI liked it. Its not a "not to missed" but I enjoyed it. Dual timeline, to understand what Betty (Boop) has been holding her entire life, since that fateful summer of 1951, played out through her grand daughters modern day repetition. There was a beauty to the friendship aspect of it, on the elder level. And an homage to the Jewish family resorts that are no longer, as well as the big Summer Resort Beauty Pageant and Competition. The past meets the modern and circles back. ...more
I really went Wow over this. You know how something has been on your TBR for a long time, and when it finally gets to be chosen, you know it was sometI really went Wow over this. You know how something has been on your TBR for a long time, and when it finally gets to be chosen, you know it was something very special and worth the wait? That was this one. It was beautifully written, even if painful at times. I really got so immersed in it that I couldn't put it down. I really really liked it, and it will stay with me a little while. ...more
It's hard to say one "enjoyed" a book, when the characters go through such devastating and oppressive circumstances. 3.5, rounded up rather than down.
It's hard to say one "enjoyed" a book, when the characters go through such devastating and oppressive circumstances. And in fact, I felt that it took too long to get to its redemptive ending. But thankfully, the redemptive ending delivered, and I could close the book knowing some good did move forward for two of the characters.
A third, and major character however, did not necessarily have a redemptive ending, but perhaps had one that may have made the best sense. This is the character for whom I believe the Buddy Read will deliver its finest discussion point of the book. Given current racial tensions and the movement of social justice, this was just hard to read. It would have been hard to read anyway, but the current zeitgeist definitely drove the point home even more deeply. I look forward to a thoughtful discussion.
Some of you may know, I picked Christina Baker Kline as my author of the year, and I look forward to reading all of her works that I haven't. I have read three. Now four. Next up for me with her is Desire Lines. And Oh how I loved Sweetwater. ...more
Just when you think you have encountered every possible variation and slant to the WWII literature, out comes Song of the Jade Lily. Did you know thatJust when you think you have encountered every possible variation and slant to the WWII literature, out comes Song of the Jade Lily. Did you know that Jews escaped to Shanghai during the war? That Jews were alongside Chinese under Japanese control?
This book combines the locales of Vienna, Shanghai, and Australia (one month too late!) In it, there is a dual storyline, and an adopted granddaughter of Asian/Chinese descent, who seeks to understand the secrets her grandparents hold, following her grandfathers death.
The older storyline followed Romy Bernard Cohen, who as a young girl, witnesses violence and loss, and escapes to Shanghai with her parents. There she meets the Ho's, a family with two children, and she and Li become best friends. Her current best friend Nina in 2016 is also embedded in the past - in fact they arrived on the same ship to Shanghai. This is Romy, and Willheim's Story. And Nina, and Li, and Jian.
I enjoyed the story well enough, but I found the writing simplistic, and the characters underdeveloped. As usual, the older story in the dual timeline was far more compelling - the history embedded within, more so than the actual plot itself. And as always, entwined in the whole thing, is love and loss, and what one risks to protect. ...more
A perfect ending for this beautifully written quirky trilogy. I loved it, but there were parts I was uncomfortable with. I think one is supposed to beA perfect ending for this beautifully written quirky trilogy. I loved it, but there were parts I was uncomfortable with. I think one is supposed to be. These are difficult themes to muster through. I was busy thinking of all kinds of reactions and thoughts various communities might have, plus my own grappling with these concepts. I had planned to write a long detailed review, announcing spoilers, but now I am deciding differently. I will write out the full review to share with anyone who asks for it, but will just share a snippet of description. The themes drive the book, so to discuss them, would be to spoil a reader's own experience and formulation. But... I have much to say, and despite being uncomfortable, by the end I was extremely moved.
Still no spoilers. In this third chapter, Don and Rosie are grappling with the fact that their 11 year old son Hudson, is having some trouble fitting in at school. Don is neurodiverse, and it is an interesting question about how parents grapple with these questions, and what choices they make in parenting. Don has his own past and present experiences to deal with in parallel. There are other themes in the book which include autism, childhood disease, sexism, racism, anti-vaccination movement and homeopathy and other alternative or functional medicine thinking routes, domestic violence, and when physical aggression should be used. All packed into this one book, where a whole host of colorful new and familiar cast of characters entertain us.
The next section (to view request) describes more about my discomfort and thinking about the themes and how they played out.. If you have already read the book and are curious, I am more than happy to share. ...more
Finishing the book this morning, tears streaming down my face in the last few pages. I adored this!
Someone asked me last week, if its a standalone, orFinishing the book this morning, tears streaming down my face in the last few pages. I adored this!
Someone asked me last week, if its a standalone, or does one have to read the first four. Yes you do. while I am sure that anything could be read as a standalone, this is meant to be part of a series, one that has completely and exquisitely wrapped me up. So I am writing my review pretty much exclusively for Jolene - who introduced me to Book One (The Seven Sisters), or anyone else who has begun or is familiar with the series.
The Seven Sisters traces each of six sisters, who were adopted by a reclusive elusive father named Pa Salt, who names them each after a star in the Seven Sisters Constellation. Upon his death, each of the sisters are led with clues to discover the mystery of their origins, and of course to a new love and new life. There is a formula to these books, and to the stories of each sister held within - and each sister finds their way to discovering themselves, their hidden talents, and a new sense of belonging. The stories are written in dual timelines, from the great grandparent love story, to the seeking sister. The Pearl Sister leads the fourth sister CeCe (Caelone) first to Thailand and then to Australia, where she finds there is a lineage connected to Pearl Farming as well as Aboriginal Art. The story is formulaic, so there are not that many surprises, but the one twist in the tale, just fit so well for CeCe's character. It just made complete sense. Brava Lucinda.
So the series is based on some suspension of disbelief, which I find both troubling and compelling. The thing that makes you read on, other than its a fun historical fiction with a dual timeline, is trying to figure out the mystery of Pa Salt? How did he swoop in at just the right time, and find missing daughters about to be abandoned, who are connected to huge icons of art and industry and culture in the past? Its just about impossible and downright mystical, and by book four, you are like How in Hell Did this guy know the connections and the pasts of these babies and show up in time all around the world to find them? Clearly this explanation is what drives the ride.... And what we have to wait for Book Seven to pull together. That's the other compelling mystery. The Seventh Sister, often missing in the constellation, and missing in this families life. Its not just hinted and explicitly told in the title. We are all (Jolene and I) wondering about the Seventh Sister Merope, never found, but who will be by 2021, (keep going Lucinda, because this better be a great ending!) So book four, especially reinforces the seven sisters theme, as there is a similar aboriginal story. The Pa Salt part is confounding and does require a total suspension of disbelief that each of these impossibly found daughters from across the globe are related to legends in the field of their hidden extraordinary talent. But I can't help it. I got roped in, in Book One, and now I am down for all Seven, until Merope and the Mystery is revealed. Looks like there is a now a sisters Reunion in the year of Pa Salt's death, and I imagine by Book Seven I will be there as well. Sister Tiggy is next, and believe she lands somewhere in the Scottish Highlands. She if I am remembering, is the intuitive sister, who works with animals and elephants. Electra, the model/movie star is Book Six. I enjoyed it greatly. So if you want to start the series, it starts with the Seven Sisters.
A final note, meant for PBT: Putting this in the strong women category. Almost felt guilty doing so, but so many books are just naturally going to fall there, so why not get the extra point for it? There are a number of strong women in this book, from minor to major characters. CeCe, Camira, Chrissy, Sarah, Star, Ma (Salt). But the strong woman in question is Kitty Mercer - the historical fiction star of the story, who travels from Edinburgh, Scotland to Australia to begin her journey. She is the strong woman who defines the tale through and through. She deserves the extra point and with a flourish. But I will be reading other books for the monthly tag, so this won't be my only one. ...more
I have read at least five of JoJo Moyes other books, including the Me Before You trilogy, and I have liked them. They have either sustained my attentiI have read at least five of JoJo Moyes other books, including the Me Before You trilogy, and I have liked them. They have either sustained my attention well enough or brought great enjoyment. I did not care for this one however. I just couldn't follow it, or relate. Neither could I develop care for the characters or the plot. Wasn't my cup of tea. Was more moved at the way it pulled together at the end. ...more
I just loved this, as many of you thought I would. It was right up my alley. A family mystery filled with magic, fairy tales, and a secret beautiful gI just loved this, as many of you thought I would. It was right up my alley. A family mystery filled with magic, fairy tales, and a secret beautiful garden. It doesn't matter when you figure out the twists - it was a compelling read through and through. Its told from three different women's point of view, and throughout their lives, which is interesting, and makes the book long. I flew through it in two days however. The only complaint I have and and its a minor one. The current story (always the least interesting in a multi-point of view historical fiction) the end of her story got tied up too neatly too quickly for my taste. I rather think the author must have lost steam after 548 pages. I think that could have been developed and flushed out earlier. Or that it didn't need to be as resolutely resolved. I could have lived with the more realistic softer hint or implication that all would work out and was opening as it should. That said - great story and great enjoyment. Thank you for the absolute recommendation. ...more
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